Statins May Not Prevent Colon Cancer

April 20, 2010 (Washington, D.C.) -- Cholesterol-lowering statin drugs do not appear to lower the odds of developing colon cancer in people at high risk of the disease, a study shows.

Long-term use of the drugs may even slightly raise the risk of precancerous colon growths in high-risk people, researchers report.

A number of studies have suggested that statins may protect against a variety of cancers, including that of the prostate. And research in the test tube and mice suggests that statins suppress the growth of colon tumors.

Analyzing the Data

The researchers analyzed data from an earlier study looking at whether the painkiller Celebrex could be used to prevent colon cancer. The trial included 2,035 people who were at high risk of colon cancer because they had had adenomas removed; 679 received placebo and the rest received one of two doses of Celebrex.

That study, reported in 2006, showed Celebrex reduced the odds of developing new adenomas, but also raised the risk of heart attacks, stroke, and other cardiovascular events.

Based on that and a second study with similar findings, Celebrex is not used to prevent colon cancer, although it is still used to treat arthritis.

As part of that study, researchers collected additional data on patients that they thought might prove useful in predicting the development of new adenomas, Bertagnolli says. Among the questions patients were asked was whether they took statins and if so, for how long.

Statins and Colon Cancer

The new analysis involved only the 679 people who received a placebo in the original study. "Celebrex has a beneficial effect that would impact the results," Bertagnolli explains.